Trip Wire A Cook County Mystery by Charlotte Carter

Set against the backdrop of late 1960s Chicago, this narrative follows Cassandra, a young Black woman living in an urban commune during a time of intense political unrest and antiwar activism. The story begins with the shocking double murder of her close friend Wilton and his white girlfriend Mia, drawing Cassandra into a complex criminal investigation involving the August 4 Committee, a radical veterans' group. As she navigates her grief, Cassandra uncovers deep-seated family secrets and internal communal tensions while grappling with the prejudices of the police and her own protective aunt and uncle. The text explores themes of racial identity, generational conflict, and the violent consequences of political radicalization. Ultimately, Cassandra must confront the painful truth behind Wilton’s death and the betrayals committed by those she considered her revolutionary family.